KyleWolf
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone.
So, I have read a bit on using barrel staves in beer and from I could see on this forum most are warned against using the staves. If I remember correctly, it was said that the wood provided too much oak character and not enough whiskey/bourbon.
I am currently undertaking this little project and wanted to know peoples thoughts. I ordered 3 barrel staves from a 55gal Jim Beam barrel. I took the widest one (about 3.5-4in in width) cut it into 4 pieces, and then...took my propane blow torch and charred each side of the wood pieces until they started to glow but did not catch fire. Those pieces are now comfortably sitting in a shallow covered bowl filled to the brim with Jim Beam.
In my mind this could accomplish two things, 1, increase the depth of flavor of the char and give more "barrel" character than oak by increasing the "charred surface area" . The charring removes any undesirables (dirt, ink, etc) from the non-charred surface. and 2, soaking them in the Jim Beam will rehydrate the wood a bit, taking on more of a "fresh barrel" character, and the whiskey will soak in and kill any bugs living in the staves.
I am tempted to give them a second light char to caramelize some of the whiskey to the wood. Then I will just drop these chunks into my fermentation bucket and let it sit.
I plan to calculate the surface area of each stave piece I added and compare it to the surface area of a traditional 5 gal barrel to determine how long I should let it sit.
I currently just have the staves sitting in the whiskey so worst case I can always pull the plug on the plan. But I was wanting to see what everyone thought of this idea and let me know if there are any serious pitfalls I am missing in my over-excitement to get this thing started.
As always, thanks!
So, I have read a bit on using barrel staves in beer and from I could see on this forum most are warned against using the staves. If I remember correctly, it was said that the wood provided too much oak character and not enough whiskey/bourbon.
I am currently undertaking this little project and wanted to know peoples thoughts. I ordered 3 barrel staves from a 55gal Jim Beam barrel. I took the widest one (about 3.5-4in in width) cut it into 4 pieces, and then...took my propane blow torch and charred each side of the wood pieces until they started to glow but did not catch fire. Those pieces are now comfortably sitting in a shallow covered bowl filled to the brim with Jim Beam.
In my mind this could accomplish two things, 1, increase the depth of flavor of the char and give more "barrel" character than oak by increasing the "charred surface area" . The charring removes any undesirables (dirt, ink, etc) from the non-charred surface. and 2, soaking them in the Jim Beam will rehydrate the wood a bit, taking on more of a "fresh barrel" character, and the whiskey will soak in and kill any bugs living in the staves.
I am tempted to give them a second light char to caramelize some of the whiskey to the wood. Then I will just drop these chunks into my fermentation bucket and let it sit.
I plan to calculate the surface area of each stave piece I added and compare it to the surface area of a traditional 5 gal barrel to determine how long I should let it sit.
I currently just have the staves sitting in the whiskey so worst case I can always pull the plug on the plan. But I was wanting to see what everyone thought of this idea and let me know if there are any serious pitfalls I am missing in my over-excitement to get this thing started.
As always, thanks!
